This attractive area belongs to a large mansion set in formal grounds. The client wanted to make use of a natural pond, which we decided would make a perfect haven for wildlife. To enlarge the area of favourable habitat, we planted the surrounding area with wildflowers such as toadflax, meadow cranesbill, yarrow, birds-foot trefoil and vetch. The damp area by the pond overflow was planted with water avens, meadowsweet and purple loosestrife, with flowering rush, flag iris, arrowhead and frogbit in the pond itself. The first dragonflies arrived before we had even finished the planting, and damselflies were breeding there all season.